Posted 5 years ago on Sept. 27, 2011, 2:21 p.m. EST by barry
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This content is user submitted and not an official statement

We, the 99%ers, understand that our system is fixed for the multinational, corporate and international finance systems. My feeling is that we have two choices for change:

1) Petition the government to change course
2) Overthrow the government; either through election or revolution

OccuppyWallStreet is enacting their First Amendment Rights to peacefully assemble to speak of their grievances against a government that is not doing its job of working for the people, but instead is focused on working for corporate entities. So it seems we, the 99%ers, want to petition the government to change course. I have been to the assemblies and I have marched (I plan to be march again tonight) and understand the logic of the leaderless action. I have also listened/watched the media futilely try to paint a picture or ask for a brand they can label the movement. But the truth is, we need a brand, or a call to action. Even Susan Sarandon was having trouble wrapping her head around the 'message; when she stopped by OccuppyWallStreet this morning. I know you guys are working towards that. Here is my humble (I think) suggestion:

THE PEOPLES PETITION. We could incorporate the '99' theme into the call to action...something along the lines of---PETITIONS FROM THE 99...or...THE 99 GRIEVANCES...or...99 GOALS FROM THE 99%. Anyway, I'll leave that to you smarter folk.

The idea is to crystalize our wants around a set of principles which will better the issues we deal with daily...Economics, Health, Education, Security, etc. Our main goal is obvious---ECONOMIC---that's why we are on Wall St. That should be the launching platform. We should come up with ten or so concrete economic petitions along the lines of---REENACT THE GLASS/STEAGALL ACT, TREAT ALL INCOME (INCLUDING EQUITY) AT THE SAME TAX RATE, ABOLISH THE FED, etc. Then we can use the OccuppyWallStreet working groups as the platforms for each political issue we wish to petition to the government. Each OccuppyWallStreet working group would come up with their own ten or so grievances for their particular cause, ie; the ART group could work on education/cultural issues, the MEDIC group could work on health issues, the ENVIROMENTAL group on...well, duh, the environment, so on, so on.

At the end we would have a list of antidotes to the political diseases that exist and unified goals that people could latch onto. Who knows, we may wind up with 99 grievances with which to petition the government and a double entendre to boot!

In the end we will not be able to occupy Wall St. indefinitely...although we need to try until change is enacted. Eventually enough businesses will complain (already hearing rumbling about that) and the city will use that as a justification for eviction. We need a clarion call that builds our 99 identity into something concrete. Then we need to take some/or all of the group to Washington, D.C. to join there on Oct. 6. The 99%ers message needs to spread...but it needs a body...right now we only have a soul.

Very good, I like it! The 8th USA Parliament's rule #32 allows the elected president and vice president to rank 33 US Senate candidates from the 33 active US Senate races in 2012. It reads:
"The elected US Senate candidate will be recognized as such by all members of the USA Parliament..."

the first steps have been skipped and now you all have to back track. what do we stand for and why? Can we stand for science fact instead of opinions? Can we stand for knowledge? can we take the time in the rush to start researching the problems and issues in an orderly fashion so that our solutions and ideas are rock solid? The clarion call you need is the one you have all been ignoring, which is to start an information centered paradigm shift of a revolution- thats not done from protesting on the streets. Its done one textbook at a time as we read those textbooks together and apply the knowledge in them to social and civil issues. This site is a fine example. There is no significant topical organization, no sub forums, no wiki. The opportunity to organize here is very limited and so limited in fact that what ends up happening is everyone who wants to get heard keeps reposting the same thing over and over. Can we get solid science centered organization? Am i the only person on the planet that understands what topical organization and sub forums should do for an effort like this? Unified goals? WTF? how about one and only one unified goal. To solve all of our social and civil problems, for real, the adult way, using science and direct democracy in an open source think tank. (?)

Other posts have said the same. I agree. (I am not in America) but I think those in Wall Street will find that if they ask the world, they might receive.

So, ask us! If there is something those of you actually at the general assemblies need/want discussed or researched, I am sure there exists an internet-based community that will help (and supply references if requested). If you need facts, ask for them. How?

1) Take the issues raised at your general assemblies and write them down.
2) From these issues, organise a structure for a forum so discussion on that topic can be concentrated. i.e. strictly control the opening of a topic - focus the attention of the public.

3) Try to sort through the information you receive (any bright ideas for this?)... perhaps cross this when you come to it.

Large social changes take place only when the market is ready — meaning when
millions of individuals are ready for such change. No matter who was leading the
movement, great social changes have occurred only when the market was ready for
them. If it was, the social changers succeeded if they acted wisely. If the market wasn’t
ready, they couldn’t move it.

I think there is a lot to be gained from extending discussion to other parts of the world as well. This is a global economy, and America is right at the centre of it. I think you'll find there are a fair few Australians and Europeans who want to help your cause.

And if the western world can offer support, just imagine how happy the rest of the world is to see what you are doing.